Maple Leafs' Joffrey Lupul out day-to-day with bruised calf

The Maple Leafs leave for Nashville on Wednesday afternoon, with Joffrey Lupul already playing a hurting tune.

Lupul, already cursed by injuries, is listed day-to-day after missing morning practice with a bruised lower calf area. He collided with P.A. Parenteau during Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Colorado and experienced some swelling.

“It’s a bit restrictive,” said coach Randy Carlyle as the team packed for Thursday night’s game against the Predators. “He’s had treatment, visited the doctor and it’s nothing other than a bruise.”

Toronto called up two rookie pro forwards from the Marlies as a precaution in case Lupul or someone else can’t play, Josh Leivo and David Broll, as well as defenceman T.J. Brennan.

It’s clear Carlyle is also upset at some coverage issues with his team, which led to a 40-minute video session on Wednesday when they were supposed to be on the ice. Paul Ranger has had some struggles in his return to the NHL in the course of the first four games, while Jake Gardiner has not played as physical as the coach wants. Gardiner has also been the subject of trade rumours with the emergence of rookie Morgan Rielly after two games.

“The media is part of playing in Toronto,” Gardiner said of his name getting kicked around. “You are aware a bit. You remember Luke Schenn a couple of years ago. It seemed he was talked about every single day (for a trade) and nothing happened for the longest time.

“(Rumours) happen with every guy ... you try and block it out.”

Both 2011 draft picks Leivo (who skated in Lupul’s spot Wednesday) and Broll would be playing in their first regular season game after good training camps and a hand in the Marlies’ two opening wins. Headed back to Ricoh are forwards Trevor Smith and Jamie Devane.

The Leafs lost for the first time on Tuesday, a slow-moving defeat after three straight wins. Though winger Frazer McLaren (fractured finger) is working out alone and is able to shoot pucks, the call-ups underline that Nikolai Kulemin (chipped ankle bone) is not near to returning until later this month.

Toronto is already without the suspended David Clarkson, whose 10-game suspension reaches the halfway point on Thursday, and defenceman Mark Fraser (knee). Jay McClement will re-join the team in Nashville after missing the Colorado game to attend his wife and the birth of his first child, a son.

Maple Leafs' Joffrey Lupul out day-to-day with bruised calf

The Maple Leafs leave for Nashville on Wednesday afternoon, with Joffrey Lupul already playing a hurting tune.
Lupul, already cursed by injuries, is listed day-to-day after missing morning practice with a bruised lower calf area. He collided with P.A. Parenteau during Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Colorado and experienced some swelling.
“It’s a bit restrictive,” said coach Randy Carlyle as the team packed for Thursday night’s game against the Predators. “He’s had treatment, visited the doctor and it’s nothing other than a bruise.”
Toronto called up two rookie pro forwards from the Marlies as a precaution in case Lupul or someone else can’t play, Josh Leivo and David Broll, as well as defenceman T.J. Brennan.